From Solo to Dialogue – Dang Thai Son & Ewa Pobłocka
Few pianists have shaped the art of Chopin interpretation more profoundly than Dang Thai Son and Ewa Pobłocka, first as laureates of the 10th International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw and, for decades after, as regular distinguished jury members. In the first half of this recital, Dang, the Gold Medallist in 1980, dives into the intimate world of the solo piano with a programme that moves from the understated poetry of Federico Mompou to some of Chopin's most cherished works.
The second half opens a new musical chapter as Dang is joined by Pobłocka. Together, they explore the rich repertoire for piano duo, from the sparkling elegance of Mozart and the lyrical charm of Schubert to Chopin's rarely heard Rondo for two pianos. The evening culminates in Poulenc's irresistible wit and theatrical flair, bringing the recital to a joyful and exhilarating close.
From Solo to Dialogue traces a compelling journey from the solitary expression of a single pianist to the vibrant conversation between two extraordinary artists. It is an evening that celebrates not only the expressive possibilities of the piano, but also the artistry, trust and shared imagination that lie at the heart of great musical collaboration.
PROGRAMME
DANG THAI SON, piano
MOMPOU –
Preludes Nos. 1 and 7
Le lac from “Paisajes”
Cancion y Danza No. 8
CHOPIN –
Nocturne in B-flat minor, Op. 9 No. 1
Polonaise in C-sharp minor Op. 26 No. 1
Three Mazurkas, Op. 50
Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23
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DANG THAI SON, EWA POBŁOCKA, piano duo
MOZART – Sonata for Piano 4 Hands in D major, K.381/123a
SCHUBERT – Rondo in D major, D. 608 for Piano 4-hands
CHOPIN – Rondo in C major for two pianos, Op. posth. 73
POULENC –
Elegie for two pianos, FP 175
Capriccio d'après Le bal masqué for two pianos, FP 155
(Programme subject to change at the artists’ discretion)
DANG THAI SON, piano
“A genuine musician” (Isaac Stern)
An outstanding international musician of our time, Vietnamese-Canadian pianist Dang Thai Son was propelled to the forefront of the musical world in October 1980, when he was awarded the First Prize and Gold Medal at the Xth International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw. It was also the first time that a top international competition was won by an Asian pianist.
He began piano studies with his mother in Hanoi. Discovered by the Russian pianist Isaac Katz, who was on visit in Vietnam in 1974, he pursued his advanced training at the Moscow State Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Russia with Vladimir Natanson and Dmitry Bashkirov.
Since winning the Chopin Competition, his international career has taken him to over forty countries, into such world renowned halls as the Lincoln Center (New York), Barbican Center (London), Salle Pleyel (Paris), Herculessaal (Munich), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam), Opera House (Sydney), and Suntory Hall (Tokyo).
He has played with numerous world-class orchestras such as The Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, St-Petersburg Philharmonic, Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal , Czech Philharmonic, Staatskapelle Berlin, Dresden Philharmonic Oslo Philharmonic, Warsaw National Philharmonic, Prague Symphony, NHK Symphony, New Japan Philharmonic, Helsinki Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, Hungarian State Symphony, Moscow Philharmonic, Russian National Symphony, as well as Virtuosi of Moscow, Sinfonia Varsovia, Vienna Chamber, Zurich Chamber, Royal Swedish Chamber Orchestras, and the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris. Also, he has appeared under the direction of Sir Neville Marriner, Vladimir Ashkenazy , Pinchas Zukerman, Mariss Jansons, Pavvo Jarvi, Ivan Fisher, Frans Bruggen, Vladimir Spivakov, Dimitri Kitaenko, Sakari Oramo and John Nelson among others.
In the field of chamber music, he has performed with the Berlin Philharmonic Octet, the Smetana String Quartet, Barry Tuckwell, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Pinchas Zukerman, Boris Belkin, Joseph Suk, Alexander Rudin, and he has played duo-piano with Andrei Gavrilov.
Other career highlights include a New Year’s Day concert (1995) with Yo-Yo Ma, Seiji Ozawa, Kathleen Battle, and the late Mstislav Rostropovich, in a major international event produced by the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation NHK; in January 1999, a Gala-concert opening the Chopin year, where he was the only foreign artist invited to appear as soloist with the Warsaw National Opera Theatre Orchestra; concerts in Isaac Stern’s last festival in Miyazaki, Japan in 2001, which included three performances with Pinchas Zukerman; a special performance in 2005 as the only guest artist at the Opening Gala Concert of the XVth International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw, where he was also a member of the jury; and on Chopin’s 200th Birthday, March 1st, 2010, he played at the Gala Concert the Concerto in F minor with the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century under the direction of Frans Bruggen at the Warsaw National Opera Theatre.